Sir Alex Ferguson preferred the Uefa Super Cup over Louis van Gaal's first match in charge of Manchester United, and the Scot will argue it was worth it after he was reunited with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo looked genuinely delighted to be reunited with his former manager when he went up to collect his medal after Real Madrid's 2-0 defeat of Sevilla.
The Portuguese, in good spirits after scoring both goals at the Cardiff City Stadium, embraced Ferguson warmly as he collected his first Super Cup winner's medal.
Ferguson, in his role as Uefa's coaching ambassador, then presented Ronaldo with his man of the match award.
Real Madrid 2-0 Sevilla
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(01 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid players (left to right) Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas, Ronaldo and Pepe (r) celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(02 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Referee Mark Clattenburg in action during the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(03 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti (r) reacts during the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(04 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Referee Mark Clattenburg in action during the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(05 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid player Fabio Coentrao (r) battles for the ball with Vitolo of Sevilla during the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(06 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson looks on before the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(07 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid player Iker Casillas in action during the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(08 of31)
Real Madrids Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao (C) vies with Sevilles Spanish defender Coke (R) and Sevilles Spanish midfielder Aleix Vidal (L) during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CARL COURT via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(09 of31)
Real Madrids Colombian forward James Rodriguez passes with the ball during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CARL COURT via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(10 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid player Toni Kroos (l) outpaces Daniel Carrico of Seville during the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(11 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid player Gareth Bale outpaces Fernando Navarro of Seville during the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(12 of31)
Real Madrid's Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale takes a free-kick during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GLYN KIRK via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(13 of31)
Real Madrid's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo scores his second goal during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GLYN KIRK via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(14 of31)
Real Madrid's Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez (C) vies with Sevilla's Argentine defender Federico Fazio (R) and Spanish defender Fernando Navarro (L) during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GLYN KIRK via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(15 of31)
Real Madrid's Portuguese defender Pepe (R) vies with Sevilla's Colombian striker Carlos Bacca (L) during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GLYN KIRK via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(16 of31)
Real Madrids German midfielder Toni Kroos (L) runs with the ball during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GLYN KIRK via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(17 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid player Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(18 of31)
Real Madrids Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale walks from the pitch after the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CARL COURT via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(19 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas lifts the trophy after the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(20 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid players James Rodriguez (l) Ronaldo and Gareth Bale (r) share a joke after the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(21 of31)
Real Madrids Portuguese defender Pepe vies with Sevillas Colombian striker Carlos Bacca (R) during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CARL COURT via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(22 of31)
Real Madrids Spanish defender Daniel Carvajal (L) vies with Sevilles Spanish midfielder Denis Suarez during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CARL COURT via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(23 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid players James Rodriguez (l) Ronaldo and Gareth Bale (r) share a joke after the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(24 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid player Ronaldo lifts the trophy after the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(25 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Goalkeeper Iker Casillas the captain of Real Madrid, lifts the trophy following his team's 2-0 victory during the UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Clive Mason via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(26 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Goalkeeper Iker Casillas the captain of Real Madrid, lifts the trophy following his team's 2-0 victory during the UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Clive Mason via Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-C3-SUPERCUP-REALMADRID-SEVILLA(27 of31)
Real Madrid's Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale (2nd R) shoots during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on August 12, 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GLYN KIRK via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(28 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid player Ronaldo consoles Sevilla goalkeeper Beto as Grzegorz Krychowiak (r) looks on after the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(29 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Goalkeeper Iker Casillas the captain of Real Madrid, lifts the trophy following his team's 2-0 victory during the UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Clive Mason via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(30 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid winks at fans as he goes up to receive his winners medal following his team's 2-0 victory during the UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Clive Mason via Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Sevilla FC - UEFA Super Cup(31 of31)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 12: Real Madrid player Ronaldo consoles Sevilla goalkeeper Beto as Grzegorz Krychowiak (r) looks on after the UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Cardiff City Stadium on August 12, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Stu Forster via Getty Images)